sentimental geek

Hello, friends. How’ve you been? Really? Me, too.

Ah, the summer is almost over. No beach this summer. Feels weird. I’m sure it’s still there. I like the beach in the winter better. It’s rougher, more viscarel.

I haven’t been sleeping lately. Last few nights I’ve tossed and turned. Last night, I tried the trick that always seemed to work when I was a kid: slept with my feet on my pillows, a la Pippi Longstocking. I don’t know why but it always made me fall asleep. Last night I just laid there and stared up at the moon and let my mind run like a projector. It’s so full of jumbled up thoughts lately. All the things I should do but don’t. All the things I say that I shouldn’t. All the books I should be reading. All the music I should be listening to. Everything I should have done at work but didn’t. How my car will probably fall apart before I make my last payment (three to go!). How I never seem to have enough hours in the day or money in my pocket to do everything I want. How my sister’s doing. What’s my brother doing. How I should have visited my parents this weekend but didn’t because I am A SHIT.

New stuff you should be listening to (put down that 30 seconds to Mars album before I kick your ass):

1. Spoon, ‘Ga, Ga, Ga, Ga, Ga’: Holy fuck, what a good new album. They’re fabulous and saying the album makes you sound a little messed up–bonus!
2. Feist, ‘The Reminder’: Actually, everyone I know is already listening to this but I heard ‘1234′ last night and fell in love all over again.
3. the Octopus Project: Any of their albums–their new one comes out in October. My favorite is Identification Parade, out in 2002. It’s messed up, drugged up music and honestly, isn’t that the best kind? (Also find Panda Bear, ‘Person Pitch’)
4. The Hotel Alexis, ‘Goliath, I’m On Your Side’: NEIL YOU MUST FIND THIS ALBUM AND LISTEN TO IT AT LEAST TWICE. YOU WILL LOVE IT.
5. the Lightning Bug Situation, ‘A Leaf; A Stream’: Pink Floyd meets Sufjan Stevens meets ‘the Waking Life’. Absolutely magnificent album. Breathtaking and heartbreaking. Like a person. It will make you want to cry and laugh and paint flowers on your windows.
6. the National, ‘Boxer’: picking up where Interpol left off. If you can find their live album ‘Black Session 230′, turn out the lights and listen.

Something for you to listen to: Jolene (Dolly Parton cover), White Stripes
And then there’s this.

PS: I wish I could sing like Nico.

It started at the old mental hospital in Concord.

Walking around and around. Knocking on doors. Peering in windows.

I just wanted to get in.

Alas, everything happens for a reason.

We got in the car and drove north. Out of Concord. Into the country. Through a cemetery or two. Because I like cemeteries.

We drove past a road that said “Webster Cemetery”. I made a quick U-turn because, you know, I like cemeteries.

Drove past three large, abandoned, open brick buildings. Drove past the birthplace of Daniel Webster.

Wondered who the hell Daniel Webster was.

Drove through a corn field.

Came back to the buildings.

Ultimately gathered it all up and asked if I could go inside one of the buildings.

Said “I’m a photographer”.

Additionally, Sufjan Stevens was on Austin City Limits last night. I’ve been watching it on a loop. Where did he come from? He has got such a gift.
Sufjan Stevens – Casimir Pulaski Day

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